ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17742, 19 April 1923, Page 14

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE.

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. The Canterbury and West Coast Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association met last night, when the chair was occupied by Mr. W. W. McKinney. There were also present: Mesdames Smith and Oordy and Miss Oilivier. Lieutenant-Colonel Creswell, Majcr Gray, Drs. Thomas and Borrie, and Messrs Bowker, Hoddinott, *nd Gray. The financial statement showed receipts amounting to £BO 19s 3d, andf expenditure to £144 15s lOd. . There was a credit balance of £1414 16s Bd. The Christchurch Tramway Board) wrote stating that a vote of £2O would be made on the same terms as last year. The Wellington Centre advised that. the Marine Department had decided to require the lighthcusc-keeperS to quality in first aid 1 . The letter said that, in view of all the circumstances surrounding keepers, the committee, after consultation with the Secretary of Marine, decided that lighthouse-keepers might qualify in first aid by attending four lectures during annual holiday leave or otherwise, and passing a doctors examination in first aid. The Centre bad asked the Secretary of Marine to have keepers notified to get into touch with the secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association in their respective districts prior to taking lectures, so that the necessary arrangements could be made. The meeting decided to send a lay lecturer to the lighthouses in the various districts. . Concerning reoent discussions about unifying appeals under a central Appeal Committee, members in a brief discussion doubted whether it would be as successful as some were reckoning on. Speakers did not see how the moneys) collected could be apportioned to the satisfaction of the various organisations affected, and then, again, many people would not give anything on account of their differing from one. of the objects for which the community appeal was being launched. "Badge-selling is dead," said Mr Treleaven, in referring to the last St. John appeal. As to the suggested community fund, he said that it would soon "out its own throat." 'Moreover, it had not yet been considered how the money was to be raised in sufficient amount to please all the bodies concerned. No doubt, if the committee was formed, the number of bodies anxious to get dividends would multiply in an astonishing way. It was decided that at the forthcoming conference further to consider the subject of community appeals, the deputy-chairman to represent the Association.